Grab handle

ABSTRACT

A grab handle attached to a chair, said grab handle comprising a fluid passageway and a fluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid. The grab handle may be used for washing and/or drying a person sitting in the chair, for example.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to grab bars or handles,and particularly to a grab bar which may be useful for performingbathing or other healthcare related activities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Grab bars or grab handles, the terms being used interchangeablythroughout, are known for use in assisting invalids or handicappedpersons, such as in getting into and out of bathtubs, or for switchingbetween sitting and standing positions.

[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,131 to Scarborough, et al.describes a portable folding grab bar device for aiding a person tostand from a seated position having a base, a support column that pivotswith respect to the base, a pivot mechanism, and a handle that the usergrabs to rise from a seated position. The support column pivots withrespect to the base to enhance portability. This is not a device for achair, however, rather the base is designed for the user to stand uponwhile the handle is grasped. The user's own body weight is used tostabilize the device in use.

[0004] U.S. Pat. 6,007,082 to Watwood, et al. describes a wheelchairdriver mountable to a horizontal frame extension of a wheelchair betweena wheel and the wheelchair frame. The driver is mounted directly to aspindle sleeve fastened to the horizontal frame extension, whichprovides a race for the driver to run upon. Grab handles are providedwith the wheelchair driver, positioned at lower sides of the wheelchair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention seeks to provide an improved grab bar for achair, as is described hereinbelow.

[0006] There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention apparatus comprising a grab handle attached to abathing device, the grab handle comprising a fluid passageway and afluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid.

[0007] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention thebathing device comprises a seat and a backrest, the backrest beingbounded by planes on both sides thereof, and the fluid outlet isarranged with respect to the seat and the backrest to direct a fluid toflow therefrom to at least one of the seat and the backrest.

[0008] Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present inventionthe grab handle is pivoted to the bathing device about a pivot axisextending between the planes, the grab handle comprising a first portionthat extends generally along the pivot axis, a second portion thatextends from the first portion generally transverse to the pivot axis,and a third portion that extends from the second portion generallyparallel to the first portion, the grab handle comprising an angularposition wherein the third portion is positioned above the seat and infront of the backrest and another angular position wherein the thirdportion is positioned above the backrest.

[0009] Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention the grab handle is lockable at one or more angular positions.

[0010] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention thefirst portion of the grab handle comprises a fluid connector thatconnects to a complementary fluid connector positioned on the pivotaxis. The fluid connector may be rotationally connected to thecomplementary fluid connector.

[0011] Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present inventionthe grab handle comprises an extension handle that extends from the grabhandle. The extension handle may comprise a fluid passageway and a fluidoutlet for flow therethrough of a fluid. Any kind of fluid may be usedfor the grab handle, such as but not limited to, water, washing liquid(e.g., liquid soap, aromatherapy substances, bathing oils, etc.) or air(e.g., heated or warm air for drying purposes).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The present invention will be understood and appreciated morefully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction withthe appended drawings in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a chair with a grab handle,constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a simplified illustration of the grab handle of FIG. 1in different angular positions, in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a simplified illustration of the grab handle of FIG. 1,showing a fluid passageway and fluid outlets, in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0016]FIG. 4 is a simplified illustration of the grab handle of FIG. 1,including an extension handle, constructed and operative in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a chair 10,constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

[0018] Chair 10 may comprise a seat 12, backrest 14, headrest 16 andarmrests 18. Backrest 14 is bounded by planes 14A and 14B on both sidesthereof. Chair 10 may be reclined and/or folded. For example, chair 10may be provided with a rearwardly extending guide bar 15, which isconstrained to slide in a channel 17 formed in an upright backpanel 19.Chair 10 may be provided with a wheel 21 attached to an underside ofseat 12. In this manner, chair 10 may be reclined by sliding guide bar15 down channel 17, as indicated by an arrow 23, as wheel 21 rollsforward, as indicated by an arrow 25. It is appreciated that this ismerely one example of a reclining arrangement for chair 10, but theinvention is not limited to this arrangement, and many other types ofreclining or folding arrangements are possible within the scope of theinvention.

[0019] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, chair10 may comprise a grab handle 20. Grab handle 20 may be pivoted to chair10 about a pivot axis 22 extending between planes 14A and 14B, asindicated by curved arrow 27. Pivot axis 22 may be at any position. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, grab handle 20 may be pivoted ata position between backrest 14 and headrest 16, such as but not limitedto, at a point above or aligned with the top of backrest 14 belowheadrest 16. Grab handle 20 may comprise a first portion 24 that extendsgenerally along pivot axis 22, a second portion 26 that extends fromfirst portion 24 generally transverse to pivot axis 22, and a thirdportion 28 that extends from second portion 26 generally parallel tofirst portion 24.

[0020] FIG. I illustrates grab handle 20 in an angular position whereinthird portion 28 is swung above backrest 14, and above headrest 16, too.FIG. 2 illustrates swinging grab handle 20 about pivot axis 22 downwardsin the direction of an arrow 29. FIG. 3 illustrates another angularposition of grab handle 20, wherein third portion 28 is positioned aboveseat 12 and in front of backrest 14. Thus, grab handle 20 may bepositioned at any angular position about pivot axis 22 and may be lockedin place at any of these positions, such as by pawls, ratchets or anyother suitable device 30 (FIG. 2).

[0021] Grab handle 20 may be one continuous piece or may compriseindividual handles with a separation therebetween. Grab handle 20 may beof any suitable size or shape (e.g., different possible configurationsare shown in FIGS. I and 3) Grab handle 20 may extend outwardssufficiently for pivoting over a person 40 seated in chair 10, as seenin FIG. 4.

[0022] Grab handle 20 has been described hereinabove in association withchair 10. In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention,grab handle 20 may be incorporated in any kind of massage and/or bathingenvironment. For example, grab handle 20 may be installed in a chair,bath tub, shower stall, sauna, Jacuzzi, whirlpool bath, swimming pooland the like. All of the aforementioned items, including the chair, arereferred to as a “bathing device” throughout the specification andclaims. Grab handle 20 may be, for example, incorporated in a massageand bathing system, such as that described in U.S. provisional patentapplication 60/384,848, copending and of the same inventor.

[0023] Grab handle 20 may be swung down to a position in front of theperson 40 for grasping and for protection, such as during washing anddrying. Grab handle 20 does not interfere with healthcare relatedactivities. Moreover, grab handle 20 may participate in the healthcarerelated activities, such as bathing and drying a person, as is nowdescribed.

[0024] Reference is now made particularly to FIG. 3. In accordance withan embodiment of the present invention, grab handle 20 may comprise oneor more fluid passageways 42 in fluid communication with one or morefluid outlets 44 at any position along grab handle 20. The first portion24 of grab handle 24 may comprise a fluid connector 46 that connects toa complementary fluid connector 48 positioned on pivot axis 22. Fluidconnector 46 is preferably rotationally connected to complementary fluidconnector 48 so as to facilitate rotation of grab handle 20 about pivotaxis 22. Any kind of fluid, such as but not limited to, water, washingliquid (e.g., liquid soap, aromatherapy substances, bathing oils, etc.)or air (e.g., heated or warm air for drying purposes), may be introducedfrom a suitable source, canister or reservoir (not shown) and flow tograb handle 20, such as through a manifold 50 via complementary fluidconnector 48 and fluid connector 46. The fluid flow is not affected bythe position of grab handle 20, or if used with chair 10, the reclined,folded or non-reclined, non-folded position of chair 10.

[0025] Fluid outlets 44 may be rotatable such that fluid flowingtherefrom may be directed towards the person 40 at any angular positionof grab handle 20.

[0026] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, asseen in a simplified manner in FIG. 1, grab handle 20 may be connectedto a drive system 60, which may rotate grab handle 20 to any angularposition in accordance with any pattern or other user-defined scheme.For example, drive system 60 may automatically scan over any desiredbody portion to deliver water, soap, aromatherapy substances, dryingair, etc. Drive system 60 may comprise one or more sensors 62, such asbut not limited to, position sensors, accelerometers, limit switches,proximity sensors, biosensors and the like, which may be mounted in oron grab handle 20 and/or chair 10 and/or the user. Drive system 60together with sensors 62 may be used as a closed loop servo-system toadjust the position of grab handle 20 and adjust the amount of water,soap, aromatherapy substances, drying air, etc.

[0027] Reference is now made to FIG. 4. In accordance with an embodimentof the present invention, an extension handle 52 may be provided thatextends from grab handle 20. Extension handle 52, which may be flexibleand/or telescopic, may comprise one or more fluid passageways 54 and oneor more fluid outlets 56 for flow therethrough of the fluid. Extensionhandle 52 may be used to reach the user's knees and lower extremities(e.g., feet and toes), while at the same time, the user may still holdon to grab handle 20 without any compromise on safety.

[0028] Accordingly, grab handle 20 may be incorporated in any kind ofhealth care device or environment, such as for bathing, showering,drying or massaging a person. Water, liquid soap, aromatherapysubstances, bathing oils, and the like may flow from grab handle 20 onthe person's body and be collected and/or drained in a bath tub orshower stall and the like. Grab handle 20 may thus enhance theshower/bathing experience, and provide extra comfort and safety.

[0029] It is appreciated that various features of the invention whichare, for clarity, described in the contexts of separate embodiments, mayalso be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described inthe context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately orin any suitable subcombination.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus comprising: a grab handle attached to abathing device, said grab handle comprising a fluid passageway and afluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said bathing device comprises a seat and a backrest,said backrest being bounded by planes on both sides thereof, and saidfluid outlet is arranged with respect to said seat and said backrest todirect a fluid to flow therefrom to at least one of said seat and saidbackrest.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said grab handle ispivoted to said bathing device about a pivot axis extending between saidplanes, said grab handle comprising a first portion that extendsgenerally along said pivot axis, a second portion that extends from saidfirst portion generally transverse to said pivot axis, and a thirdportion that extends from said second portion generally parallel to saidfirst portion, said grab handle comprising an angular position whereinsaid third portion is positioned above said seat and in front of saidbackrest and another angular position wherein said third portion ispositioned above said backrest.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3,wherein said grab handle is lockable at at least one angular position.5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first portion of saidgrab handle comprises a fluid connector that connects to a complementaryfluid connector positioned on said pivot axis.
 6. Apparatus according toclaim 5, wherein said fluid connector is rotationally connected to saidcomplementary fluid connector.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said grab handle comprises an extension handle that extends fromsaid grab handle.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein saidextension handle comprises a fluid passageway and a fluid outlet forflow therethrough of a fluid.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 3, whereinsaid grab handle is connected to a drive system, operative to rotatesaid grab handle about said pivot axis.
 10. Apparatus according to claim9, wherein said drive system cooperates with a sensor to adjustoperation of said grab handle.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said fluid outlet is rotatable.
 12. A bathing device comprising:a seat and a backrest, said backrest being bounded by planes on bothsides thereof; and a grab handle pivoted to said bathing device about apivot axis extending between said planes, said grab handle comprising afirst portion that extends generally along said pivot axis, a secondportion that extends from said first portion generally transverse tosaid pivot axis, and a third portion that extends from said secondportion generally parallel to said first portion, said grab handlecomprising an angular position wherein said third portion is positionedabove said seat and in front of said backrest and another angularposition wherein said third portion is positioned above said backrest.13. The bathing device according to claim 12, further comprising a pairof said grab handles pivoted to said bathing device on opposite sides ofa centerline of said bathing device.
 14. The bathing device according toclaim 12, wherein said grab handle comprises a fluid passageway and afluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid.
 15. The bathing deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein said fluid outlet is arranged withrespect to said seat and said backrest to direct a fluid to flowtherefrom to at least one of said seat and said backrest.
 16. Thebathing device according to claim 14, wherein said first portion of saidgrab handle comprises a fluid connector that connects to a complementaryfluid connector positioned on said pivot axis.
 17. The bathing deviceaccording to claim 16, wherein said fluid connector is rotationallyconnected to said complementary fluid connector.
 18. The bathing deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein said grab handle comprises an extensionhandle that extends from said grab handle.
 19. The bathing deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein said extension handle comprises a fluidpassageway and a fluid outlet for flow therethrough of a fluid.
 20. Thebathing device according to claim 12, wherein said grab handle islockable at at least one angular position.